Rangers suffer Dunfermline stunner
GLASGOW, Scotland -- Champions Rangers were left eight points behind leaders and arch-rivals Celtic after a shock 2-0 Scottish Premier League defeat away to Dunfermline.
Stevie Crawford scored the first in the fifth minute and Paolo Vanoli's own-goal eight minutes from time sealed Dunfermline's first win over Rangers in three decades..
The unwelcome setback took the gloss off Rangers earlier signing of Auxerre's French international defender Jean Alain Boumsong in a five-year deal.
Boumsong, who turned 24 on Sunday, will join the Glasgow giants at the end of the season after signing a pre-contract agreement.
Rangers have financial problems and the capture of Boumsong, who has three caps and is likely to be part of France's squad at the Euro 2004 finals, is a significant signing for the club.
He has interested several European sides including Liverpool, whose manager Gerard Houllier has publicly stated his admiration of the towering defender.
The Glasgow club's debts are estimated to be more than 50 million pounds ($87.37m) and manager Alex McLeish stressed that Rangers would not have paid a transfer fee for the player.
"Everybody has to remember there wasn't a fee for Jean Alain and that helps Rangers to do the deal," he added.
"They were talking about him and his defensive partner at Auxerre, Philippe Mexes, costing something like 10 million pounds apiece so I think it is a good bit of business for Rangers."
Boumsong was carried off with a knee injury during Auxerre's 2-0 league win over Lens on Saturday but it is not regarded as a long-term problem that could affect the deal.
McLeish also confirmed that Rangers have opened talks with English First Division club Sheffield United to sign midfielder Michael Brown during the January transfer window.
